By Carol Guarino, MS, RD, CDN, CDE

Following a health crisis, patients often receive a list of restrictions with regard to activity or food.  A patient recently told me his physician gave him a laundry list of “don’ts.”  His response; “Don’t kill me before I die”.  I found this to be a powerful reminder of how our patients may feel after an event, a new diagnosis or even a yearly physical.  

The media bombards us with pseudoscience, promoting the latest miracle diet. Some claim entire food groups should be restricted, others dictate the time of day you can eat, while some even maintain you should base your food intake on your blood type. 

The 2020 – 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), provides science-based recommendations for meal plans to reduce the risk of chronic illness and promote an overall healthy lifestyle. The DGA’s recommendation for 2020 is to:

• Follow a healthy dietary pattern at every life stage.
• Customize and enjoy nutrient-dense food and beverage choices to reflect personal preferences, cultural traditions and budgetary considerations.
• Focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages, and stay within calorie limits.
• Limit foods and beverages higher in added sugars, saturated fat and sodium, and limit alcoholic beverages.

With a 74% obesity rate among American adults and a 59 out of 100 Healthy Eating Index Score, we need to look at why we are falling short in implementing  healthy eating patterns.

After speaking with a patient, it is best to explore their individual needs and tailor personal goals to meet these needs.

The DGA provides recommendations by food groups – not specific foods and beverages – to be inclusive of cultural and social patterns, empowering the individual to make healthy changes.

Taking the time to listen to patient concerns, evaluating personal needs and customizing the recommendations to the individual may be the key to getting them pumped to make heart healthy changes!